By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Sam Hiller, a firefighter/paramedic from Lake Forest, Illinois, was selected to serve as a referee for ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
• The selection reflects her officiating skills and decision-making under pressure, traits her department said align with emergency response work.
• Hiller will officiate games featuring top international hockey teams competing for Olympic medals.
• The department highlighted the dual-role achievement in a social media post.
LAKE FOREST, IL — Sam Hiller, a firefighter and paramedic with the Lake Forest Fire Department, has been selected to officiate hockey games at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy.
Hiller’s role will be as a referee during international ice hockey competition, where teams from around the world will compete for Olympic medals beginning in February.
Officials in Lake Forest said the selection reflects Hiller’s ability to make split-second decisions and maintain composure in high-pressure situations, skills they noted are shared between emergency response and sports officiating.
The Lake Forest Fire Department acknowledged Hiller’s achievement in a social media announcement, noting the dual significance of her service as a first responder and an Olympic official.